Of shoes and ships and sealing wax-- Of captcha and kings (who stand on platforms)

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Guys, I'm not planning a huge post today. Rather, I thought I would catch up with you all. How are you going? We're two months into 2012 now - is everyone meeting their writing goals? I must confess that I've been struggling a bit, though that's starting to turn around now. I've been trying to re-plot FROM THE OTHER SIDE, which I've renamed REVENGE, ahead of a giant re-write. You know the feeling, when you've got such a huge task ahead of you that it all seems too daunting...

But I've been taking inspiration from this passage of Mary Kole's:

So if you feel like you’re just tinkering, shoveling text like a kid pushing peas around his plate, be brave and try starting over completely. You know what you want to accomplish with the section, so just take a brand new run at it. Or maybe you’ll realize that the section wasn’t working and trash it entirely, or find another, better part that fits. Change is tough, especially when you’ve been working on something for years and are eager to see it in print. But it’s once you kick the ladder out from under yourself completely, I’ve found, that you discover resources and ideas you never could’ve imagined.

If you're facing the thought of big revisions ahead, Mary's post might give you some helpful insights - it did me :)

Talking about motivational posts, did you catch this post by the legendary Angela Ackerman of The Bookshelf Muse (in a guest post at Write to Done)? It gives a number of practical ways in which you can turn your writing weaknesses into strength, and is a must-read for all writers. And Angela was kind enough to mention me and my Beta Matches in her point about finding critique partners to help identify your weak areas and offer strategies to improve.

Captcha

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It used to be bad enough, but the word verification (now commonly known as captcha - "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart," according to Wikipedia) at the bottom of many bloggers' comments boxes is causing all of us huge headaches! In their quest to trick spammers, the writing has become almost indecipherable to us mere mortal humans. So we're forced to squint, guess, re-enter words over and over again, all of which is a waste of time. Many bloggers refuse to comment if they know you use captcha, so you might even be missing out on comments if you use it!

Did you know you can turn word verification off? While I can't speak for other blogging platforms, Blogger does a pretty good job of filtering spammers. True, you receive an email telling you exactly what the spam message is, but the message isn't seen on your blog. So I guess it's worth considering. Anything to make things easier, right? Here's a recent post by Siv Maria, who's definitely not feeling the love. She tells you how to turn word verification off, with step by step instructions for those of us who are more technologically challenged :)

Writers' Platforms

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You know I'm all about platforms, right? Well, it's important to build one, of course. But have you thought about what happens then? And what a platform is anyway? Sher A Hart has written an awesome post about what exactly a writers' platform is, and more importantly, how not to fall off once you've built one. Check it out - I think you might find it useful.

Well, my not-so-huge post has gone on a little longer than I planned. So that's it me for today :)

How about you, any thoughts or helpful links you'd like to share? Do you just want to tear captcha to shreds? Have you got the philosophy *behind* your writers' platform in place?

Blogging Basics: How to increase your followers and build your platform (Part 1 of 3)

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I've run these posts before, but they're so important I thought they might be worth a repeat.

My "How to increase your followers" series will involve:

Part 1 - Following blogs and making sure you can be followed
Part 2 - Ways to increase your followers and/or subscribers
Part 3 - Some essential blogging requirements.

And on October 1, I'm being interviewed at Laura Barnes' blog as part of her Saturday Savvy Sensation series, where I'm giving some tips about platform-building. I hope you can all join me there :)

In this post, I'll be focusing on making sure people can follow or subscribe to your blog (and giving you a few tips on ways to increase your followers in this respect). I'll also be giving you ways to follow other peoples' blogs, particularly where there's no “Followers Gadget". I’ll be focusing on Blogger, WordPress, and personal web pages.

Following/Subscribing

To a lot of people, “following” and "subscribing" means pressing the “Follow” button on this gadget:

But it’s a little more than that, so bear with me.

Following or subscribing is basically a way for you to mark the location of a blog and read new blog content as it is posted. Unless there was some way for you to do this, you’d never remember which blogs you visited, or find the blogs you wish to return to again and again. You’d also spend hours physically checking blogs to find out if they’ve posted anything new since your last visit.

Followers Gadget

The Followers Gadget was introduced by Blogger as a means of social networking, and was later merged with Google Friend Connect (I’ll just call it the Followers Gadget here). It’s a pretty handy gadget, because:

1. for followers - by clicking on the “Follow” button, you can be identified as a follower of a particular blog AND automatically subscribe to blog updates through the blog’s feed. See my post about Google Reader, which is a fantastic way to read the feed you’ve subscribed to as quickly and efficiently as possible.
2. for blog owners - you can see which (and how many) other bloggers are interested in your blog and what you have to say. It’s also a means of adding subscribers to your blog feed, which means more people are reading your posts.

If you use a Blogger platform (eg, if your URL is http://yourblogname.blogspot.com), you have the option to add the Followers Gadget (go to “Design”, then “Add a gadget” then scroll down the list until you can select the Followers gadget). I have seen some Blogger users who choose not to add the Followers Gadget, but by far the majority of Blogger blogs do have this.

Many WordPress users (eg, if your URL is http://yourblogname.wordpress.com/) are not able to add a Followers Gadget to their blogs (Wordpress does not allow this). If that is the case, you'll need to include other links/gadgets/buttons on your blog that allow people to subscribe to your feed (I discuss this more below). You can also add Networked Blogs, which operates in a similar way to the Google Friend Connect gadget.

Bloggers who use personal web pages are able to add Google Friend Connect to their sites.

How do I follow a blog that does not have a Follower’s Gadget?

If a blog doesn't have a Follower’s Gadget, there are other ways you can follow/subscribe to that blog so you can read its posts:

(1) subscribe using RSS

click on an RSS button (which often looks like the following). It usually has this orange square symbol and may be very tiny, so you might have to look around for it. In some blogs, the button is not actually labelled “RSS”.

You’ll then be directed to a page similar to this one – click on the correct button depending on which reader you use (“Google” if you use Google Reader)

Some WordPress blogs have both a “RSS – posts” link and a “RSS – comments” link, so click on “RSS – posts”

Many WordPress blogs don’t have the orange square symbol, so look for this instead:

Then click on “entries RSS”

(2) if you have Google Reader, copy the URL of the blog you wish to subscribe to, open your Reader, click on “Add a Subscription” on the top left, and paste the URL. This subscribes you to the blog's feed in the same way as if you subscribed by RSS

(3) subscribe by email (you’ll receive an email every time a new post is posted on the blog you’ve subscribed to, which may not suit some people. However, if you wish to read every post a person publishes, this can be a useful tool)

(4) click on Posts (Atom) at the very bottom of all the posts on the blog’s home page (for Blogger). This will usually take you to the same Feedburner page as clicking on the RSS button

(5) click on the Networked Blogs widget (if you have a Facebook account). It’s fairly similar in operation to Google Friend Connect though with a Facebook interface. It allows you to read the posts from the blogs you've subscribed to, in a similar way to Google Reader.

(6) on some WordPress blogs, when you make a comment you can tick the “subscribe to this site by email” button, which has the same effect as the dot point above this.

And there you have it, a number of different ways you can follow a blog.

Making sure your blog can be followed

If you want to make sure your blog can be followed:

1. add an RSS button or link (essential)
2. add a Followers Gadget (if your blog host supports it. This is the most common way of following in the blogging community among non-Wordpress users)
3. add a Networked Blogs widget (optional)
4. add a "Subscribe by email" gadget (preferable).

And keep an eye out for Part 2 of my Blogging Basics series, which will give you further tips for increasing your followers/subscribers in this respect.

How about you: Do you have any following or subscribing tips, or additional ways to follow/subscribe other than those I’ve listed above?

When did you last back-up your blog? (plus directions if you don't know how)

I had a major panic a couple of weeks before The Great Blogger Crash. Everything on my blog went screwy - little bits of computer code appeared, my followers all disappeared, I couldn't open my dashboard - everything you can imagine to give me a headache and a spot of "Oh my God, what if...?" Things were back to normal the next day, thank goodness, and I'd backed-up my blog a few days before so I wouldn't have lost everything, but the whole incident made me squirm. I thought it might be timely to remind you to back-up your blog regularly, and show you how to do it if you don't know already.

As to the reminder part

Um, yes, do it! :D

And the directions...Here's how to save a copy of your blog template, in four easy steps (honest!)

Step One - Click on "Design" at the top right of your blog (or you can go through the Blogger Dashboard instead if you prefer)

Step Two - Click on "Edit HTML"

Step Three - Click on "Download Full Template"

Step Four - Save the file (I usually add the date to the save-name, so I can easily work out which is the lastest download)

And as for saving your entire blog content...Check out Clarissa Draper's post here.

And that's it, eezey-peezy. I've set my calendar to remind me to back-up my blog every two weeks, but you can do it more or less if you prefer, of course. Make sure you save your blog often though - we put so much work into them, and I've heard some horror stories about people who've lost the whole thing. For good!

How about you: Did these directions help you? Do you back-up your blog often (if so, how often)?

Other stuff:

I was interviewed by Deana Barnhart on platform-building last week. Check my two-part interview out here and here.

You'll have seen I've been doing a bit of tinkering with my sidebar and my banner - hope you like :D Also, I finally got my act into gear and joined Networked Blogs - I'm looking forward to catching up with heaps of you there!

Thanks so much to everyone who's given me an award lately! I've popped your names and awards up on my Awards Page *grins*

Oh, and I've changed my blogging schedule to Mondays-only for the next little while, as I dive into my revisions in preparation for querying.

Hope everything's well with you all, and Happy Monday!

First Crusader Challenge – Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade

A couple of weeks ago, I kicked off my Writers' Platform-Building Crusade, a way for aspiring writers and beginner bloggers to network together, support each other, build their online platforms, and have fun with their blogging.

We'd love you to join us - simply check out my original post, follow the instructions, and leave a comment in that post with a link to your own post. There's a list of Crusaders on my blog sidebar (check them out if you want), and I'll add you to the list when you join.

And now, it's time for our First Crusader Challenge!!!

(*Drumroll*)

And the challenge is...

Write a Crusader Challenge post beginning with the phrase, "I sat down to write the other day and..."

The rest is up to you. You can use the piece to introduce yourself, tell us what inspires you to write, tell a funny story, or anything really. So be creative and let’s see what you come up with.

And...a Crusader Challenge just isn’t the same without a grand prize. So, given I’m about to start featuring aspiring writers in some of my Insider Scoop interviews on Rach Writes..., how about I give the winner the chance to be my first victim...ah, I mean, interviewee. Cool prize for an online platform-builder, no?

Ah, “How do we find out who wins?” you ask.

Well...let’s work it on a points system:

• I’ve written a Crusader Challenge post beginning with the words, "I sat down to write the other day and..." and I’ve commented in this post with a link to my own post (+100 points)
• I’ve included the completely random words “quidditch,” “Mars,” and “elephant” in my Crusader Challenge post (+40 points) – there has to be a bit of a challenge for you! :)
  
• In my Crusader Challenge post, I’ve included a link back to this post and told everyone about the Crusade and the Crusader Challenge (+20 points)
• I’m following all my fellow Crusaders (as listed on the Rach Writes... sidebar) on their blogs (+20 points)
• I’ve included all my fellow Crusaders in a blog roll / list on my blog (+20 points)

If it comes down to a tie, I’ll pop my favorite posts in a new post on Rach Writes... and call for votes on the winner (and I’ll make the final decision if the voting is inconclusive).

Entries will close next Friday October 8, so make sure you comment in this post before then and leave us the link to your Crusader Challenge post plus how many points you earned.

Have fun!!! Check out the other Crusaders’ posts and comment along. Can't wait to see what you come up with :)

Writers' Platform-Building Crusade - Rock On Crusaders!!!

For those of you who missed it, check out my original Writers' Platform-Building Crusade post. There's been a fantastic amount of interest from others who, like me, are wanting to build their online platform and support other writers and platform-builders at the same time.

To date we have 20 Crusaders - woot!!! Check them out on the blog roll in my sidebar. This is an ongoing thing peeps! Our aim is to have fun with our blogging, to make connections, and to actively support each other in our journeys toward being published.

The more the merrier - we'd love to have you join in! Just drop me a comment in the original post, follow the directions in the post, and I'll add you to the list.

So, what's next, I hear my fellow Crusaders ask. Here goes:

1. don't forget to blog about the Crusade and follow along with Rach Writes... if you haven't already. Subscribe by email if you don't want to miss any posts;
2. check out your fellow Crusaders in my sidebar. Pop by their sites, follow along, drop them a comment to say hi. It's fantastic to see some of you doing this already!
3. keep in touch with other Crusaders. We all love getting comments, so go nuts! Read and comment on our articles (and share links on your own blogs), join in our competitions, and make up your own Crusader blog rolls on your site so your followers can join in the fun;
4. take part in the Crusader Challenges (first Challenge coming on Friday, woohoo!!!);
5. spread the word about the Crusade as we blog along. Tell your followers what you're doing. How's the Crusade working? Are you enjoying the Challenges? Have you made heaps of new connections? Increased your followers? How's your platform-building going?
   
6. make sure you include links back to my original post (http://bit.ly/9kMySK) whenever you blog about the Crusade, so your followers can check us out too.
   

It's so fantastic to have you all on board! I can't wait to share this journey with you.

Writing Compelling Characters – The Great Blogging Experiment

So, you’ve decided who your main character is. A girl, 16 years of age. You’ve come up with a cool name; oh, let’s say, “Z”. What then? How do you bring Z to life in the mind of your readers? ‘Cause it sure won’t be enough just to list name, age, rank, and serial number. Nor simply a physical description (and do you even want to give a detailed physical description, or let the readers imagine Z for themselves – though that’s a whole ‘nother topic in itself).

How to bring Z to life? How to make Z so compelling that the reader actually cares about what happens to her? Hmm…

Here are my top tips:

1. think big, and I mean BIG. Before Z can be a compelling character on paper and in the reader’s mind, she needs to exist in your own. She’s the girl who has just moved in next door, but do you really want to get to know her? Or would you walk right by her in the street without even really noticing her. What, a sixteen-year-old girl just walked by??? Oops, didn’t even see her there.
2. pretend Z is a real person, with likes and dislikes, wants and needs. Some of these will be readily apparent right from the start, and others might just creep in and surprise you. Z’s phobia about turtles, for example. I mean, really, who’s scared of turtles! As your main character comes to life in your mind, that will influence the way you write about them on paper. Hard to avoid making them compelling, really, when they’re so real to the writer!
3. why does she insist on being called “Z” anyway? Share enough of her past to make her interesting. She’s named after Great-Aunt Zelda. She thinks the name “Z” fits well with her spunky attitude. “M” was already taken (*waves to James Bond fans*). We won’t know unless you tell us. Or even better, show us!
4. what motivates Z? What is she after in life? Her first boyfriend. Her first kiss. Her first relationship with a vampire/werewolf/zombie/other paranormal creature. A real friend. Revenge. Acceptance. You name it, the reader will be able to better connect with your main character if they understand what motivates her.
5. how does Z react to life’s challenges? Well, she certainly doesn’t passively accept the big pie in the face from the man (or woman!) upstairs in the sky. And she’ll have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the altar of social responsibility and upright teenager-ness. Sometimes she just wants to stand there and yell swear-words at the top of her lungs. However Z reacts, react she should. How else do we become invested in her life? How else do we want to know what will happen to her?
   

See what I mean. In just a few simple sentences here in this blog, Z is already starting to spring to life. Actually, I think I might just make her the main character in my next WIP.

Can’t wait to see how you make your Z compelling!

Join the Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade

In the spirit of the The Great Blogging Experiment, I’m putting out a call to all aspiring writers and start-up bloggers who want to connect with people in a similar position, increase their followers, and further develop their on-line platform. Check out my Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade post for details on how to join in. I’ll be publishing a list of all fellow Crusaders on my blog, so we can network together and have fun with our blogging.

And (*drumroll*) the first Crusader Challenge will be taking place next week!!!

Would love to have you along.

Writers' Platform-Building Crusade

What a fantastic response we've had already to the Rach Writes... Inaugural Writers' Platform-Building Crusade! And we're still only just kicking off, so keep on spreading the word...


It's great to see some of you already checking out the other Crusaders' blogs and commenting along - love those comments!!!

I'll be posting the start of the Crusader list on my blog in the next few days, so make sure you go and follow along with your fellow Crusaders if you haven't already.

And keep checking back here for updates (I think there's a little glitch in my blogger feed so my blog posts aren't showing up on people's dashboards). Subscribe by email if you don't want to miss anything...

The Rach Writes... Inaugural Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade (what fun!!!)

SADLY, THE INAUGURAL WRITERS' PLATFORM-BUILDING CRUSADE HAS COME TO AN END. BUT KEEP AN EYE OUT IN EARLY 2011 FOR MY ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SECOND CRUSADE - HOPE YOU ALL COME ON BOARD!!!



There are so many of us out there. Aspiring writers, beginner bloggers, industry peeps, even published authors, all who want to build their online platforms. We write insightful posts and articles, actively blog within the blogosphere, take part in challenges, competitions, and contests galore.

We have the passion and the drive to make it, but…we could do with a few more followers.

So, I started thinking. What if we link all these people together. What if we create a way to meet people in a similar position, people who genuinely want to help build our online platform while at the same time building theirs. People who want to pay it forward in the spirit of writerly writerness and blogging beautificity (and see it come back to them in turn)!!!

And here it is…

I’m kicking off the Rach Writes… Inaugural Writers’ Platform-Building Crusade.

How cool is that!!!



Let’s work it like this:

1. Follow along with my site if you don’t already (I want to build my online platform too of course) :)
2. Become a Crusader by leaving a comment to this post (include your blogging name and a link to your blog)
3. Write about the Crusade on your blog and link back to this post
   
4. Encourage your followers to come to Rach Writes… and join up (it will help them too!)
5. Tweet about the Crusade, including a link to this post (http://bit.ly/9kMySK) and #WPBC1. Encourage re-tweets. I'm @RachaelHarrie if you want to follow me in the Twitterverse too
   
6. Pop it on Facebook
7. Generally, spread the word…

I’ll publish a list of all the Crusaders on Rach Writes..., and I’ll update the list as people join in on future Crusades.

And there it is. You’ll have a list of bloggers in the same position as you, who genuinely want to help you succeed. You can visit their sites, follow along with their blogs, leave comments galore, and share your highs and lows as you journey through the blogosphere and build your online platform. And they'll be doing the same for you.

Beats poaching any day!!!

I’ve got some Crusade Challenges and Blogfests planned, so let’s see how many people we can get onboard and make this an ongoing thing...

Jump on board the Writers' Platform-Building Crusade. Spread the word. Pay it forward. And have fun with your blogging!!!

Stay Tuned...

Stay tuned, cause there's a busy few weeks to come on Rach Writes...

I'll be interviewing Caitie Flum, ex-agent intern and proofreader, for The Insider Scoop (and let me tell you, some or the dirt she dishes on the role of an agent intern and what literary agents are looking for is incredible stuff!).

I'm taking part in Elana Johnson's The Great Blogging Experiment, and will be posting a piece on "Writing Compelling Characters" on Friday, September 24.

The fantastic Jody Hedlund, author of The Preacher's Bride (due out in October 2010), will be answering some questions for The Insider Scoop.  She'll be giving a debut author's perspective on writing and getting published and I can't wait to hear her thoughts...

AND, in the spirit of my earlier post about a writer's public profile and building a platform, I'm going to kick off my inaugural Writers' Platform-Building Crusade, a way for aspiring writers and start-up industry bloggers to link together and start to build a network amongst themselves (following along with sites, commenting regularly, re-tweeting, linking between sites, etc etc).  I'd love to see you take part and will be posting more about this shortly!

Exciting stuff, and I can't wait to share it all with you!!!